Due to the very lousy weather forecast for this weekend (rain, thunderstorms, and high in the 60’s), we are going to reschedule the Kankakee River outing to June 12-14. If you are still able to attend that weekend you don’t need to do anything. If the date does not work for you, please e-mail Nancy Hopkins and you will get a refund.

Scouts who were not able to go this weekend, but would like to sign up for June 12-14, can sign up online. (The form and post still have the old dates, but everything else is accurate.)

We are monitoring the weather forecast for this weekend, and we may have to move the outing to a new date. We will let you know as soon as possible.

We held a meeting for parents last week covering everything you need to know about summer camp. There are links below for the documents that were discussed. If you were not at the meeting, please review the instructions carefully. The most important points:

• Schedule a medical exam ASAP because every scout (and adult) going to camp must have a medical form signed by a physician.
• Scouts need to select merit badge classes and submit their selections to Liz Gomorczak, along with t-shirt size.
• Bikes need to be inspected before camp.

1. Medical Form Parts A, B, C: Parents complete Parts A & B. A physician must complete Part C. http://www.scouting.org/filestore/HealthSafety/pdf/680-001_ABC.pdfSee sample form for instructions on how to complete specific portions: Sample medical form. You can save the completed pdf on your computer to save time next year.

   MEDICAL FORMS ARE DUE NO LATER THAN JULY 10 SO THEY CAN BE COPIED AND ORGANIZED FOR CAMP.  IF YOU CAN’T GET PART C (physician exam) DONE BY THEN, SUBMIT PARTS A and B AND PROVIDE 3 COPIES OF PART C BY JULY 19! NO EXCEPTIONS! DELIVER FORMS TO:

   Liz Gomorczak
   2359 Burr Oak Avenue (5 blocks east of Des Plaines on north side of tracks)
   North Riverside
   OR SCAN AND E-MAIL TO jecggomo@gmail.com
   OR FAX TO 312-228-7811 – delivered confidentially to Liz’s e-mail

2. Print medical forms double-sided to save paper (A scout is thrifty!)
3. Insurance card – provide a copy of the front and back with medical forms.
4. Map to camp: http://clsr.samoset.org/resources/MapToCLSR.pdf (6-hour ride)
5. Address/phone number of camp:
   Scout’s Name, Troop 24, Camp Site – Fox (if you want to write but be sure it’s mailed early enough)
   5403 Spider Lake Road
   Rhinelander, WI 54501
   Letters are welcome; please do not send care packages
   715-365-3111 – Tesomas phone
   715-333-9849 – Tesomas fax
6. Parent guide: http://clsr.samoset.org/resources/TSCParentsGuide.pdf
   (DISREGARD PACKING LIST AND USE THE FOLLOWING INSTEAD)
7. Packing list – Scouts should pack so they know where everything is:
   Tesomas Packing List
8. Put your scout’s name on everything–AND WE MEAN EVERYTHING!!!
9. Scouts must wear Class A uniform (Scout shirt but not neckerchief) for travel to and from camp
   Bring a wire hanger to hang the shirt during the week.
10. Advancement schedule – Be sure to check the level of difficulty (A is the most difficult and C is the least difficult).  It is recommended that first-year scouts stick to levels B and C: 2015 Tesomas Advancement Schedule
11. Prerequisites – Be sure to check if there are any prerequisites for chosen merit badges: http://clsr.samoset.org/resources/TSCPrerequisites.pdf. Prerequisites should be done before camp starts.
12. Supplies for certain merit badges – check http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page for supply list (basketry, leatherwork, etc.)
13. Troop’s merit badge book library – will be brought to camp for scouts to reference, but we suggest that you print out the workbook for each merit badge at http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
14. First-year scouts – merit badge choices (swimming, cooking + 1 or 2 more). See 2015 Tesomas Advancement Schedule
15. Additional fee – for shotgun merit badge ($25)
16. Special diet – Click on link and select:
    https://www.doubleknot.com/form/formjump.asp?bidx=0&surveyID=4401&OrgKey=1438
    Unit Type – “Troop”
    Unit Number – “24”
    Beginning Date at Camp – “July 26, 2015”
    Ending Date at Camp – “August 1, 2015”
    Camper’s Name
    Check – “Youth”
    Camp – “Tesomas Scout Camp”
    Your Phone Number
    Your E-mail Address
    Click “Continue”
    Fill in box with dietary needs
    Click “Complete Survey”
17. Bikes – It is HIGHLY recommended that all scouts bring bikes to camp to get around
    *Bikes MUST be inspected ahead of time.  (The Wheel Thing offers a free inspection and 10% off parts if needed – 15 S. La Grange, 352-3822) but more info is forthcoming.
    ALL scouts MUST HAVE HELMET! It’s a BSA rule.
    Bike drop off is Thursday, July 23, at 2413 4th Ave, North Riverside (home of Tom Hartwig)
18. Microtrek: http://clsr.samoset.org/hanna/microtrek.php
    *$45 for 13 – 14 years
    *$55 for 15 – 16 years
19. Waivers:
    Waivers must be turned in to Liz Gomoczak with the medical forms.
    Bike (BRING HELMET): http://www.troop24riverside.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/bike-agreement.pdf
    Rafting: http://clsr.samoset.org/resources/RaftingPermission.pdf (Microtrek 101 for 13 – 14 years)
    ATV: http://clsr.samoset.org/resources/ATVPermission.pdf (Microtrek 200 for 15 – 16+ years)
    Zip line: http://clsr.samoset.org/resources/ZipLinePermission.pdf (Microtrek 200 for 15 – 16+ years)
20. Scuba: http://www.northwoodshighadventure.com/programs/scuba.php
    Cost – $170
    Measurements – height, weight, chest, waist, inseam, shoe size
    PADI Medical Statement
    2 – 1 ½ x 2” size photos for certification card
    Participants will get more information mailed in early summer.
21. Camp map: http://clsr.samoset.org/resources/CLSRMap.pdf (Fox Campsite is #27 on the map)
22. Departure –  (The round-trip bus fee is $100 and information will be provided soon).  Meet in parking lot of Hauser (behind school) at 6:30 a.m. for a 7:00 a.m. departure.
23. IF YOU HAVEN’T COMPLETED THE SWIM TEST IN ADVANCE, YOU WILL NEED TO TAKE THE SWIM TEST UPON ARRIVAL.  BRING SWIM TRUNKS AND TOWEL IN SEPARATE BAG ON BUS. (See Item 28.)
24. Lunch – Bring sack lunch or money for lunch going, and be sure to save enough money for lunch on the return trip (put $ in one envelope marked “Lunch on way to camp” and $ in a second envelope marked “Lunch on way home from camp”). DO NOT BRING FOOD TO STORE FOOD IN TENTS!!!
25. Trading Post – slushies and odds and ends – ~$25 is probably enough for whole week, including lunch going and coming unless your scout wants to buy a souvenir.
26. Return – the bus departs camp between 9:00 and 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 1.  The scouts arrive back in Riverside in the Hauser parking lot at around 4:30 pm.  They will use leaders’ phones to call as they get close and/or a Feedblitz will go out letting parents know when to meet the bus in the Hauser parking lot.
27. Cell Phones – signal is very weak; chances of loss and/or damage are significant. Do NOT bring cell phones.
28. Swim test – A Feedblitz will go out several weeks before camp to advise of when/where (possibly Riverside Swim Club).  It’s best to complete before camp.
29. T-shirt size – Add scout’s t-shirt size to merit badge selection form (or e-mail Liz Gomorczak at jecggomo@gmail.com).
30. Expect your scout to be sent home with a tent or other equipment to clean and dry after camp.

Riverside’s Memorial Day Ceremony has been moved inside due to the weather. The ceremony will be held at the Riverside United Methodist church on Woodside, across from Hauser. The ceremony starts at 10:00 a.m.

Tonight is our last regular troop meeting of the year. Next Thursday, May 28, will be our spring Court of Honor, which all scouts (and parents) should plan to attend.

We will also be holding Boards of Review tonight, so please sign up online if you need either a Scoutmaster Conference and/or a Board of Review
Scoutmaster Conference
Board of Review
Be sure to bring your scout books to have requirements signed off.

We are still in need of scouts for these events. Please sign up for:
Memorial Day ceremony
Court of Honor candle ceremony

It’s not too late to sign up for:
Kankakee River
Camp Tesomas

Finally, tonight is our parent meeting for scouts going to Tesomas. We will meet in the Social Hall at RPC at about 7:10-7:15. If your scout is not signed up, but is still considering whether to go to Tesomas, please join us for the meeting. If you have not yet paid for camp, please bring your payment tonight.

The Village of Riverside’s annual Memorial Day program will be held on Monday, May 25. The village has asked for the scouts to participate in the ceremony, as well as arrive at the village hall to help set up chairs at 7:00 a.m. Scouts should be in full uniform. It’s always a very moving ceremony, so any scouts who are in town this weekend are urged to attend. Questions? Contact Scoutmaster Tom Hartwig at thartwig@olparks.com.

Please sign up here: http://troop24riverside.com/2015/05/memorial-day-form-may-26-2015/

Our spring Court of Honor will be Thursday, May 28, at 7:00 p.m. All scouts should plan to attend unless they have absolutely unavoidable conflicts (like graduation). For those of you who will be there, we need scouts to perform the candle ceremony. Any scout can do this–including our first-year scouts. Please sign up here: http://troop24riverside.com/2015/05/court-of-honor-form-may-28-2015/

We also need refreshments! Please email Gail Klotz at gailklotzrn@sbcglobal.net if you can bring something and indicate in the email what you are bringing. Suggestions are cookies, brownies, fruit, cheese & crackers, veggies & dip, hummus or guacamole & chips. We also need a few volunteers to arrive by 6:40 to assist with the food and beverage set-up.

Thank you!

Due to a very generous donation from the grandparents of one of our scouts, the Troop Committee has adopted a policy to provide need-based financial aid to scouts. To make the process easy for applicants as well as the Troop Committee, and to avoid the need to ask intrusive questions about income, qualification will be based on whether a scout receives free or reduced price lunches at school. Annual dues will be waived, and assistance up to 50% of the cost of regular outings may be available. In return, we ask that the scout sell popcorn in the fall, and earn at least $150 in popcorn credit.

The policy is available here: Financial Aid Policy. Questions about financial aid should be directed to committeechair@troop24riverside.com.